It is hard to believe, but the 2025 college baseball season is less than a month away for several of our squads here in the Sooner State.

Over the next several weeks leading up to the season we will be looking a some of our teams on the college level. Recently we sent out a questionnaire to the head coaches of each squad from the NCAA D2, NAIA, NCCAA, and NJCAA levels asking about their returning players and incoming players as well as their thoughts about their strengths and “opportunities” heading into the 2025 season.

Let’s take a look at a team with high expectations for the 2025 season at the NJCAA (Junior College) level: Carl Albert State Vikings.

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2024 Recap

CASC bounced back in 2024 and qualified for the Region 2 Tournament finishing 3rd. The Vikings were 31-24 overall in the regular season and 14-16 in Region 2 finishing one game ahead of Murray State qualifying them for the Region 2 Tournament.

At the plate, the Vikings finished in the top half of the Region in team average (.301) and OBP (.433), and RBIs (366).

On the mound, the Vikings also finished in the top half of the Region with a team ERA of 5.57

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Team Basics

• Official name: Carl Albert State College Vikings
• Level: NJCAA Div II
• Location: Poteau, OK
• Conference: Region 2
• Head Coach: Paul Pulley (5th year at CASC, 5th overall)

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2024 Team Statistics

Batting
– Games: 60, .301/.433/.433, 40 HR, 366 RBI, 561 H, 109 2B, 8 3B, 324 BB, 385 SO

Pitching
– Games: 60, 31-24, 5.57 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, .304 BAA

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Returners

Position Players

• Dominic Ornelas (C), 2024: G 41, .191/.353/.400, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 5 2B
• Jeff Frazier (LF/1B), 2024: G 50, ..264/.378/.313, 19 RBI, 7 2B
• Brooks Herrera (CF), 2024: G 25, .167/.327/.286, HR, 8 RBI, 2 2B
• Ty Wiley (OF), 2024: G 20, .241/.463./241, 3 RBI
• Alex Nirider (OF), 2024: G 20, .229/.393/.313, 6 RBI, 2 2B, 3B

Pitchers

• Gage Elliot (RHP), 2024: G 18/GS 3, 0-2, 5.40 ERA, 36.2 IP, 47 H, 16 BB, 24 SO
• Trenton Golden (RHP), 2024: G 11/GS 3, 2-2, 5.77 ERA, 34.1 IP, 37 H, 15 BB, 24 SO
• TJ King (RHP), 2024: G 8, 12.46 ERA, 8.2 IP, 13 H, 11 BB, 12 SO
• Kaden Murray, 2024: DNP
• Tanner Mullins (RHP), 2024: G 13, 0-0, 4.58 ERA, 19.2 IP, 21 H, 16 BB, 16 SO
• Chase Stephens (LHP), 2024: DNP (Tommy John)

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Incoming Players

• Duke Walker (RHP), High School: Paris (AR) HS; “Low 90s, plus breaking ball
• Carter Norris (RHP), High School: Weatherford (TX) HS; “6’7″ up 80s with good changeup”
• Madden Dillard (LHP), High School: Rogers (AR) HS; “Mid 80s with 3 pitch mix for strikes”
• Keypher Contreras (OF), High School: Liceo Lida Maria Beltre (Baraona, Dominican Republic); “LHH, future NCAA D1 player or possible draft. Worked out with MLB clubs”
• Jackson Harrell (3B), High School: Vista Ridge (Cedar Park, TX); “Well rounded hitter with a little power”
• Royce Florenzano (1B), High School: Crowder HS; “LHH, good hitter with good approach”

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Outlook

After a down year in 2023, the Vikings turned it around in 2024 to make the Region tournament. CASC is traditionally one of the better JUCO programs in the state and Coach Pulley expects them to be once again in 2025.

Dominic Ornelas and Jett Frazier are the 2 best bats returning. Both of them had a good Fall according to Coach Pulley and he expects them to continue in the Spring. Also, Coach Pulley listed only 3 incoming position players, but looking at their roster, there are some Oklahoma kids that we are familiar with that could make an impact. Coach Pulley thinks the Vikings could score a lot of runs and we agree.

As with most JUCO squads, CASC is looking for improvement on the mound. Gage Elliot and Trenton Golden have the most innings of the returning pitchers but they have only 6 starts between them. The Vikings should get some help from Chase Stephens who missed 2024 with Tommy John surgery. Coach Pulley likes the way he has looked since he’s been back and expects him to be in the rotation eventually. The additions of the pitchers coming in provide a good mix of RHPs and LHPs for the Vikings.

While there a plenty of new faces, Keypher Contreras looks like the big time player of the group. He’s already worked out with some MLB teams. With him in the lineup and if the Vikings can get the results on the mound, a trip beyond the Region tournament is definitely withing reach.

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